Writing for Fun
September 2016
Double Take - Diane Silverston
From the moment they were born it was known they were going to be trouble. Even then they seemed united to cause havoc. Their mother couldn’t always tell them apart. When one was sick the other would wait until everything had been cleared up and then be sick. Five minutes after one nappy had been changed the other one would need to be done.
As toddlers they had a system of their own, a skill at getting their parents frantic. A look in their eyes saying, ‘We’re going to win.’ One would be naughty, then look as if to say, ‘Not me! It must have been him.’
At Primary school they really came into their own. Jimmy became Jonny and visa versa. They had a language of their own, finished each other’s sentences, did each other’s work. A teacher’s nightmare.
They were a lovely pair, blonde hair, big blue eyes, a ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ expression and a wry smile. They were inseparable, didn’t really needed other’s but had lots of friends.
In Secondary school they were put into separate classes. A mistake! This meant even more fun for them, again switching places, a perfect alibi for each other. This was soon realised and they were put together again. At least the teachers knew there should be 2 of them, even if they couldn’t tell which was which.
They continued together through college, having a super time. Still confusing ‘the powers that be’. Both boys were very intelligent and of course followed the same subjects, each attaining good results. Their ability to read each other’s minds, know what was happening to each other, even if apart, was recognised and resulted in them getting very good jobs in the secret service, where their identical features were put to good use.
Very useful to have two diplomats who could be used in different places at the same time. Once again proving to be a great alibi for each other.
Many a Foreign Minister had met one of them not realising there was a twin meeting another minister and discussing the same points elsewhere. Jimmy and Jonny spent many years working for the government. Their abilities put to good use rather than causing trouble.
They even married twin girls, lived next door to each other to raise their families. At least their wives knew how they worked and could tell them apart.
Now at 85 with no family nearby, they had decided it was time to have help and to go into a residential home.
‘Different homes!’
‘No way! We’ve been together all our lives, we’ll stay together.’
And so here they were, sitting side by side in the lounge, smiling and winking at each other, passing secret messages across.
‘Well hello, and which of you is Jimmy and which is Jonny?’
With a wry smile at each other they replied, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’